Los Angeles Rams DL Michael Brockers is being traded to Detroit Lions, source says

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1:05 a.m.ET

  • Lindsey ThiryESPN

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    • Covered Rams for Los Angeles Times for two years
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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Los Angeles Rams are finalizing a trade to send veteran defensive lineman Michael Brockers to the Detroit Lions, a source confirmed to ESPN.

NFL Network was the first to report the move.

This is the second trade the Rams and Lions are entering into this off-season after the Lions hired former Rams director of college scout Brad Holmes as general manager in January.

Shortly after Holmes’ appointment in Detroit, the Rams sent quarterback Jared Goff, along with a third round for 2021 and for 2022 and 2023 for the first round, to the Lions in exchange for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

These transactions will become official on Wednesday at the start of the new competition year.

A first-round pick in 2012, Brockers has spent his entire nine-year NFL career with the Rams. He signed a three-year $ 24 million deal with the Rams last off-season after a deal with the Baltimore Ravens went through.

Brockers could fall victim to the Rams, who were about $ 33 million above the limit, according to overthecap.com, after the $ 182.5 million salary cap was set in 2021.

The move will cost the Rams $ 3.67 million in dead money costs, but it will also generate a maximum savings of $ 6.17 million, according to overthecap.com.

Brockers’ base salary of $ 6.5 million is fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the competition year.

Brockers is expected to provide immediate relief in the innermost line of defense for the Lions, who already signed on Monday with edge rusher Romeo Okwara and Trey Flowers under contract.

But the middle of the row is missing. The Lions released last year’s initial nose tackle Danny Shelton on Tuesday and have only Nick Williams, Da’Shawn Hand, John Penisini and Kevin Strong under contract in a defensive tackle.

In trading for Brockers, the Lions could see him as a short-lived piece at the very least to aid the team’s defensive rebuild, as he’s under contract until 2022. are good additions to a Detroit defense that struggled in both areas under Matt Patricia.

Brockers, who played for seven seasons with three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, has 28 career sacks.

ESPN’s Michael Rothstein contributed to this report.

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